1995 Railcar Accident
In 1995 a railroad tank car at the Bogalusa facility vented its contents when pressure overwhelmed its rupture disc. The railcar contained dinitrogen tetroxide which was used as a process oxidant. The subsequent release forced an evacuation of about 3,000 people within a one mile (1.6 km) radius of the plant. Lawsuits filed against Gaylord Chemical Corporation and Vicksburg Chemical (dinitrogen tetroxide supplier) were settled in May 2005. A followup investigation determined that the accident occurred as a result of mixing of the railcar's contents with water.
The incident had a strong effect on the process and personnel safety management system in the corporation and catalyzed a determined effort to improve safety performance. By 2008 Gaylord Chemical was recognized by the Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA) for this work and was named as a Class 1 'Best in Louisiana" SAFE award winner.
Read more about this topic: Gaylord Chemical Corporation
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